Gogebic Taconite Plans More Drilling, Data Collection in Penokees

Gogebic Taconite has indicated it plans to drill more holes in the Penokee Range this summer, though the DNR says the company hasn’t yet applied for the needed permission.

Gogebic Taconite is working to collect environmental baseline data at the site of a proposed iron mine.

Credit Natalie Jablonski / WXPR News

DNR hydrologist and mining project lead Larry Lynch says the DNR must first grant a license for any exploratory drilling.

“So in order to get that they have to give us the locations of the holes, what their target depths might be, how they intend to maintain the site, handle stormwater…basically give us a good description of what they intend to do.”

The company has already drilled more than 20 bore holes last summer and winter.

And Lynch explains Gogebic Taconite is beginning to collect other kinds of data that will be used in its environmental impact statement and mining permit applications.

“They can go out and collect streamflow data. What they’re doing right now is mapping the streams and wetlands; they’ve conducted some wildlife surveys, they will be installing some more groundwater wells.”

The company doesn’t need permits in advance for most of that data collection, though it does need to submit documentation for things like groundwater monitoring wells.

Lynch says the DNR is also maintaining a presence and doing some data collection in the mine site area.

Gogebic Taconite wants to drill more exploratory holes in the Penokee Hills this winter. The mining company has applied for a permit to drill an additional 15 holes.

The holes would be about 2 and a half inches in diameter, with depths ranging from 280 feet to almost 1500. GTac drilled eight similar holes last summer. DNR mining project lead Larry Lynch says these holes would be in different areas of the Penokee Range.

The public has its first chance to share opinions with the Department of Natural Resources on the Gogebic Taconite mine proposal. The DNR is holding a hearing Thursday at Hurley High School, from 10 am until 8 pm. DNR Hydrologist Larry Lynch says DNR officials are hoping for feeback on the specifics of GTac’s plan for bulk sampling and testing of the proposed mine site in Iron and Ashland Counties. The public can also comment on the preapplication for mining filed by GTac - the first step in the permitting process.

On Saturday, April 26th, a group of about thirty people gathered in Iron County to feast on pancakes and locally produced maple syrup they call “Penokee Gold.”

Paula Mohan came from Madison for the event.

“I wanted to come for the pancakes and the Penokee Gold and all the other food and the fact that it is the one year anniversary," Mohan said. "I was last here in February and it’s kind of nice to be here because it is not twenty below and there are no bugs yet."